LOUGHBOROUGH Students Men began their season with a fine win over Cannock.

The game started at a high intensity with Chris Griffiths winning the ball off a Cannock midfielder and hitting a shot just wide of the far post.

Loughborough’s speed and aggression in pressing soon paid off as once again the ball was turned over in midfield, followed by some fluent passing down the right led to a first time reverse stick shot from James Spain that rifled high into the Cannock net giving Loughborough a first minute lead .

The game continued at a high intensity with chances for both teams. Neither side were able to capitalise until the 20th minute when the ball fell to Cannock forward Nick Bandurak in the circle who found a yard of space and struck the ball on his reverse stick, past Loughborough keeper Harry Gibson.

Within minutes Loughborough earned a short corner, having not let the goal affect them.

Daniel Faulkner’s drag flick from the resulting corner came off the keeper; where Loughborough forward Kevin Ross pounced on the rebound, putting it past the Cannock keeper, only for the goal to be disallowed by the umpires.

Loughborough were then awarded a long corner, from which the ball was passed to Daniel Falkner who smashed it towards the goal with Dom Bowden getting an exquisite touch deflecting the ball into the Cannock goal.

Going into half time Loughborough had a well-deserved 2-1 lead.

Cannock entered the second half fired up and created lots of chances and several short corners which, without some vital defending from Stephen Hunter and some superb saves from keeper Harry Gibson, would have seen Cannock get back into the game.

Loughborough continued to work hard in defence preventing Cannock any further clear cut chances to equalise.

Midway through the second half Loughborough’s Griffiths received a pass in the D which he hit first time past an unset Cannock keeper to make it 3-1.

Cannock tried everything to get back into the game with some physical play, resulting in a few green cards, however Loughborough remained composed keeping possession of the ball and a worked hard in defence to hold out for the victory.

The match ended 3-1 to an elated Loughborough side, realising how important it was to get off to a good start to the season.

The Nicholas Humphrey’s man of the match award was awarded to Chris Griffiths who tormented the opposition all game.